1959 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 1959 Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Caracas, Venezuela from January 6 through January 18, 1959. Cuba could not come as the Cuban revolution was going on.
Puerto Rico won their first Central American and Caribbean Games Gold in baseball; it would be 43 years until the second. They went 7-1 and then beat Venezuela in the finale. Jose Marrero and ?R. Paulino? each went 2-0 while Pedro Perez had a 0.00 ERA. Woody Huyke would go on to a long minor league managerial career.
Venezuela also went 7-1 in the round-robin before falling to Puerto Rico in the finals. Pablo Higuerey and Jose Perez each had a 2-0 mark. Manuel Mendible led the Games with 13 runs. The team had future major leaguer Gus Gil.
Panama claimed Bronze with a 4-4 record. Luis Sanjur hit .500 to lead all hitters, while Francisco Sanchez had the most RBI (11). Fernando Castillero went 2-0. Future major leaguers Chico Salmón and Ossie Chavarria played for Panama.
Mexico placed fourth at 2-6.
Netherlands Antilles was winless in their 8 games to bring up the rear. Bernard Hoftyzer led with 5 steals.
Source: A History of Cuban Baseball by Peter Bjarkman
Also see 1959 Central American and Caribbean Games (Rosters)
Central American and Caribbean Games
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